Letter: City's water policy soaks the poor

Few central Ohio homeowners know that, if you live in a township or a city like Whitehall, Grove City or Westerville, you pay at least 30 percent more for water (tap, shower, etc.) than Columbus.

A disabled veteran in Whitehall and a single mother in Groveport pay a higher cost for water than a millionaire in Columbus. How is this possible? The answer is Columbus owns and controls its water and sewer system, and this monopoly gives it the power to charge higher prices to taxpayers who cannot vote in city elections.

For sewer system charges, there’s a hefty markup, but it also includes other strings attached. Do you live in a township and want city sewers instead of a septic system? It would be a shame if you don’t want to annex into Columbus and start paying their income tax (a policy the city enacted in 1954).

Within certain circles, Columbus is famous for its water torture. Academic papers have been written about surrounding the suburbs and making sure Columbus could grow. But is it benefiting anyone?

Google “Columbus City Map” and you will see a jurisdictional spaghetti of twisting lines. Yet city officials argue it costs more to provide water to Whitehall (5.4 miles away) than an apartment complex at Polaris (12.8 miles away).

If you live in a township, you pay even more. See the Sept. 14, 2014 Dispatch article “Franklin County water comes at a high price.” “The average quarterly water and sewer bill for a Columbus family ... is about $184… (in) other areas served by the county, the bill will be around $332.”

If you don’t laugh at Columbus for defending this system, you’ll cry for the poor residents it is soaking. Columbus officials argue they are “at risk.” Yet when Columbus got sued by the Ohio EPA and settled for $2.5 billion, they just increased rates for everyone, including the suburbs.

It stands to reason if this “risk” existed, Columbus would prefer a regional system. Yet, when asked publicly, the administrator replied “No, Columbus would not be in support of a regional authority.” Why not?

My “The Clean Water, Fair Pricing Amendment” is public for everyone to read on facebook.com/StateRepMikeDuffey. It will benefit lower-income Franklin County residents:

• Columbus must charge everyone in Franklin County the same rates for water and sewer.

• Columbus cannot threaten annexation. This is a big roadblock today for homeowners who fear annexing into Columbus will change their communities for the worse.

• Ohio EPA decision-making authority for sewers will become a regional authority for more than 30-plus served communities. Columbus will no longer be the 800-pound gorilla.

• Neighborhoods could seek service from other counties. Free market competition!

Columbus is not required to follow these rules, but must do so in order to get certain state funding. Columbus says it already treats all neighborhoods equally.

But if that’s true, then surely it won’t object to a state law guaranteeing the promise.